Max Holloway Puts His Title on the Line Against Brian Ortega at UFC 226

The reigning featherweight champion asked for his next fight to take place at UFC 226 and now Holloway will face top ranked contender Brian Ortega on July 7 as part of the card headlining International Fight Week 2018.

Sources close to the contest confirmed the news on Friday following an initial report from MMAJunkie.

Holloway had just recently accepted a short noticed fight for the lightweight title against Khabib Nurmagomedov but the New York State Athletic Commission ruled him medically ineligible to take the bout after an excessive weight cut.

After missing out on that opportunity, Holloway quickly turned his attention to UFC 226 instead as he looks to make the second consecutive defense of his featherweight title after defeating former champion Jose Aldo last December.

As for Ortega, the undefeated submission specialist is coming off back-to-back wins over Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson to put himself into position to battle for the title.

Ortega is 14-0 with one no contest on his record as the 27-year old California native will now get his first chance to fight for UFC gold.